Respite Care in Emporia, KS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Emporia, KS: the local picture

3,407

residents 65 or older (14% of Emporia)

64%

of residents 65+ in households live with someone, often a family caregiver

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Lyon County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Emporia ZIP codes

Most older adults in Emporia live with someone: 64% of residents 65 and older in households do. When one of them needs care, the person they live with usually provides most of it, and respite is what keeps that sustainable.

About 1,148 Emporia residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (33% in Lyon County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Emporia ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Emporia compared with Lyon County and Kansas

Census figure	Emporia	Lyon County	Kansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	33%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	14%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.9%	5.6%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	6.7%	5.7%	5.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,301	$52,578	—

Older residents in towns around Emporia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Osage City, KS	26 mi	537	52%
Burlington, KS	28 mi	530	35%
Topeka, KS	51 mi	23,158	35%
Ottawa, KS	52 mi	1,889	46%
Garnett, KS	52 mi	633	49%
Iola, KS	54 mi	985	29%

Hospices serving Emporia

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hand In Hand Hospice	Emporia, KS	1.2 mi	(620) 340-6177
St Croix Hospice	Topeka, KS	49 mi	(785) 256-9632
Good Shepherd Hospice	Wichita, KS	74 mi	(316) 616-2277
Angels Care Hospice	Wichita, KS	74 mi	(316) 854-0859
Good Shepherd Hospice Of Mid America Inc	Olathe, KS	81 mi	(913) 322-3297

Nursing homes near Emporia (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Flint Hills Care And Rehabilitation Center	Emporia, KS	1.6 mi	4 of 5	50	(620) 342-3280
Emporia Presbyterian Manor	Emporia, KS	2.1 mi	3 of 5	60	(620) 343-2613
Chase County Care And Rehab	Cottonwood Falls, KS	19 mi	3 of 5	45	(620) 273-6360
Diversicare Of Council Grove	Council Grove, KS	25 mi	2 of 5	60	(620) 767-5172

Straight-line miles from the center of Emporia. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a respite caregiver can help with

Taking over the usual routine while you are away
Meals, medication reminders and personal care
Company and activities
Overnight cover for a weekend or a trip

Cost

What respite care costs in Emporia

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,108 monthly median income of Emporia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a respite caregiver

Family caregivers carry most long-term care in the U.S., and burnout is a common reason a home arrangement breaks down. The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, and the ARCH National Respite Locator lists respite programs by state.

Questions worth asking: Can you do a short paid visit first, while I am home? Are you available at short notice if I am ill? Can you stay overnight, and what do you charge for it? More in our respite care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Respite Care in Emporia: common questions

Which hospices serve Emporia?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Emporia ZIP codes, including Hand In Hand Hospice, St Croix Hospice, Good Shepherd Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Emporia?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,108 monthly median income of Emporia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Does Medicaid or Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare pays for short inpatient respite stays only for people on its hospice benefit (Medicare.gov); the hospices on this page serve Emporia. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers Kansas.

More near Emporia

More senior care near Emporia

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Emporia

More for Emporia families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Respite Care in Emporia, KS